What Texans should know to prevent and prepare for wildfires

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Austin American-Statesman
·5 min read

Texas A&M Forest Service and local fire departments have responded to more than 6,800 wildfires that have burned about 600,000 acres across the state since Jan. 1. Over the weekend, a wildfire near Liberty Hill in Williamson County prompted temporary evacuations of at least 200 homes, but firefighters had contained 75% of the 500-acre blaze by Monday morning.

As the ongoing Texas drought intensifies this summer, fire safety experts are encouraging homeowners to prevent and prepare for uncontrolled outdoor fires. More than half of Americans don’t have an emergency supply kit and 1 in 10 say they would ignore evacuation orders during a wildfire and stay in their home, a national survey found.

The survey, conducted by online consumer review site GeneratorTools.com, connected with 1,018 people across the country, including 78 Texans. Of those surveyed, 78% said they do not have a portable generator, 54% do not have an emergency supply kit and 76% — 3 of every 4 — haven’t evacuated even when an evacuation order was issued for a weather or disaster situation.

Disaster prep expert Bob Newman, a retired Navy SEAL master chief and product expert at the security company Batten Safe, said preparation can help prevent panic during emergencies.

"People need to have a starting point," Newman said. "They need to not put these things off. ... Most of the people that we find start preparing, they realize that they aren't necessarily going to need these things, but they all feel much better for having them, and then they inspire the other people in their community and families to participate in these things."

The importance of preparation

Karen Stafford, a state wildfire prevention coordinator with the Texas A&M Forest Service, said that with drought conditions worsening in many parts of the state and 215 of 254 counties under a burn ban, she hasn’t seen these types of conditions since 2011.

That year, the Bastrop County Complex Fire, which started in September about 30 miles east of Austin and burned more than 34,000 acres, was the most destructive wildfire in state history.

James Altgelt, emergency management coordinator for Bastrop County, encourages people to prevent and prepare for fires in the area.

"The biggest thing that we're asking people is to respect the burn ban to be a good neighbor, to be careful when they're welding or they're doing anything that can be a source of ignition for fires," Altgelt said.

A mutual aid agreement allows fire departments such as Elgin, Smithville and Heart of the Pines to send crews to Bastrop if needed. The Texas A&M Forest Service staged extra units to come into the region if necessary. Altgelt recommended that people reach out to local fire departments to see if they can assess property and provide feedback on how to keep the property safe before a fire department can arrive.

Stafford said most people don't prepare for natural disasters such as wildfires because they don't think they will be affected. However, she said 85% of wildfires occur within 2 miles of a community.

“A lot of people think, 'It won't happen to me.' They're not seeing it. They've never been impacted by a wildfire. But now's the time to prepare,” Stafford said. “It only takes a spark to start a wildfire.”

Preventing fires

Stafford recommends taking certain precautions to prevent wildfires:

  • Obey local burn bans. The Texas A&M Forest Service has an online burn ban map.

  • Exercise caution when parking near grass because the heat from your car can ignite the grass.

  • When pulling a trailer, keep an eye on tow chains that could create sparks and start roadside fires.

Preparing for fires

Newman recommends a few steps for those with no safety plan yet:

  • First, plan emergency evacuation routes from your home.

  • Communicate with all members of the household to ensure everyone knows the routes.

  • Gather tools to use in case of emergency.

  • Read the instructions on new items, so if the time comes, people can use the tools quickly and correctly.

Newman also recommends everyone put together some basic survival tools they can use in case of an emergency. He said people should search for a survival kit online and read reviews to decide what works best for your needs. If they don't know where to start, the basics include:

  • Bottled water to take with you during evacuation or a water sanitizer to ensure access to drinkable water.

  • A high-powered flashlight.

  • Something to generate heat in case the weather gets cold.

  • Emergency blankets.

  • Multiuse tools with folding knives and other tools.

Protecting property

GeneratorTools.com encourages people to think proactively during wildfire season in summer:

  • Compile important documents in a firesafe box or an easy to carry case.

  • Make all necessary medication easy to grab.

  • Consider buying a weather radio.

Stafford also recommends using the forest service's website's resources and these tips for protecting your home:

  • Use fire-resistant landscaping to prevent the spread of wildfires.

  • Use fire-resistant construction materials, such as certain roofing, wall materials and windows, to reduce a home's risk.

  • Improve access for emergency responders by having clear street signs and addresses and accessible roads.

She also encourages people to keep up with current fire activity on the forest service's website or social media pages.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What Texans should know to prevent and prepare for wildfires